Launching platform, spring launching element and target area

ABSTRACT

A launching type target game including a multi-compartmented board with the compartments arranged in regular rows, and launching platforms with launching elements spaced from said game board, and plural playing pieces of a size and shape to be launched by said launching elements and received in the compartments of said game board. The launching platforms have raised arcuate shoulders defining a launching surface for supporting a playing piece. The launching members are mounted adjacent the platforms for movement between a cocked or stressed position remote from the platforms and a released or launched position which extends through the space above the platform. Each launching element includes a spring connected at its lower end to the platform and having an enlarged riged member connected at the spring&#39;&#39;s upper end.

limited States Fatent [191 Breslow LAUNCHING PLATFORM, SPRING LAUNCHING ELEMENT AND TARGET AREA Y [75] Inventor: Jeffrey D. Breslow, Chicago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates,

Chicago, 111.

22 Filed: NovQS, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 196,114

[52] US. Cl. 273/101, 124/16 [51] Int. Cl A63b 71/02 [58] Field of Search 124/7, 16; 273/101, 105 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 817,928 4/1906 Medley 124/7 1,080,670 12/1913 Zimmerman 124/16 3,341,202 9/1967 Stars 124/7 3,525,525 6/1968 Rideout 1. 124/16 2,657,057 10/1953 Chapin 273/101 Jan. 22, 1974 Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant ExaminerMarvin Siskind Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Coffee & Sweeney 57 1 ABSTRACT A launching type target game including a multicompartmented board with the compartments arranged in regular rows, and launching platforms with launching elements spaced from said game board, and plural playing pieces of a size and shape to be launched by said launching elements and received in the compartments of said game board. The launching platforms have raised arcuate shoulders defining a launching surface for supporting a playing piece. The launching members are mounted adjacent the platforms for movement between a cocked or stressed position remote from the platforms and a released or launched position which extends through the space above the platform. Each launching element includes a spring connected at its lower end to the platform and having an enlarged riged member connected at the springs upper end.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 LAUNCIIING PLATFORM, SPRING LAUNCIIING ELEMENT AND TARGET AREA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to game devices and more particularly, to launching type games.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art The prior art is replete with many forms of launching games. Generally speaking, the object of such games is to launch a missile or the like through a path of travel for landing in a specific target or receptacle. Launching games are popular in that the players are able to utilize some elements of physical skill in the execution of the game. It is the purpose of this invention to provide an improved form of the well received launching game, wherein the playing pieces are intended to be launched into alignedrows defined by a series of compartments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved launching game.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a tray-like member with opposed launching platforms therein,

having a resiliently attached launching element. The tray includes a medially positioned, multiple compartmented game board with the compartments in regular rows. Playing pieces are provided of a size and shape to be received in the compartments of the game board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the launching game of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken generally along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplifica'tion of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The launching game 10 of this invention is generally enclosed within a tray 12 having a bottom 14 and a surrounding side wall 16 defined by upright portions 16a, 16b, l6c, 16d, 16c and 16f. Preferably, the tray 12, and related components to be described herein, is made of a rigid plastic material, although it is to be understood that other suitable materials could be utilized.

In the illustrated embodiment, the game I includes a pair of launching stations 18a and 18b having raised platform portions 20a and 20b, respectively, and a further raised offset arcuate shoulder 22a and 22b, respectively, which provide a launching surface for playing pieces 24. Preferably, the playing pieces are cubical in configuration. It is to be understood that other geometric configurations of playing pieces could be provided and that more than a pair of launching stations could also be provided.

Each launching station I811 and 18b is provided with a launcher means 26 which includes a button-like element having a post 26a an enlarged disc-like portion 26b and a depending stub 26c. Stub 260 is inserted and snugly received within the interior of an upright coil spring 26d which, in turn, is snugly telescoped over upright pin 26c which projects upwardly from e platform 20a and 20b. By this arrangement, the launcher 26 is mounted for movement between the retracted, or cocked position, wherein the spring 26d is stressed, as shown in FIG. 2 in dotted outline, for movement through a launching position wherein the disc portion 26b intersects the space above thelaunching surface or arcuate shoulders 22a and 22b. The position shown in FIG. 2 in full outline, is a rest position, which is intermediate the extremes of the cocked or stressed position and the extended or launchingpositions.

The game board 30 is situated within the tray between the launching platforms 18a and 18b and is the target area for the several playing pieces 24. Preferably, diametrically opposite cornersof a preferably rectangularly configured game board are positioned opposite the launching platforms 18a and 18b. It is to be understood that this relative orientation, as well as specific configuration, are not the only forms in which it is contemplated that the game of this invention could be carried out.

Generally speaking, the game board 30 or target area, comprises a raised platform 32, preferably formed from the bottom 14 of the tray. The platform 32 is provided with a multiplicity'of compartments or pockets 34which are preferably formed in regular rows in the raised platform 32. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the compartments are formed in five rows of five each, providing a total of 25 compartments across the game board. To play the game, participants attempt to launch their playing pieces 24 into the compartments so that they will be arranged in a row. To facilitate visualizing the scoring of the game, two or more sets of different colored playing pieces may be provided so that each participants set of playing pieces is readily distinguishable fromthe other. Thus, if one participant succ'essfuly-launches all. of his playing pieces into a so-called horizontal or vertical row across the game board, before the other opponent does so, he will have won the game. The game does have the feature of the possibility of the opposing playing pieces blocking the other playing piece from entry into a compartment, such as by way of collision during their path of flight. To facilitate in launching the playing pieces into the several compartments, it is to be understood that the launching arrangements for the launchers 26 provides a generally universal mounting arrangement in that the spring may be flexed in any number of given directions and that the launching surfaces 22a and 22b are arcuate so that the playing piece may be positioned anywhere between the extreme ends thereof and launched into different sectors of travel towards the several compartments 34.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A unitary launch and target type game comprising:

a plurality of playing pieces;

' a unitary game board having a plurality of compartments formed therein arranged in regular rows;

a plurality of launching stations around the periphery of said compartments formed on said game board from where playing pieces are to be launched toward said compartments, each launching station having a platform and a relatively raised arcuate shoulder defining a launching surface for supporting and orientating a playing piece preparatory to launching; and

a plurality of upright resilient launching elements each mounted adjacent each of the launching surfaces for movement in any direction between a cocked or stresscd position remote from said launching surface and a released or launched position which extends through the space above said launching surface each launching element including a spring means connected to the platform at its lower end and having an enlarged rigid member connected toits upper end at an elevation closely above the plane of said launching surface, whereby a playing piece supported on said launching surface is launched toward the compartments in one of an infinite number of directions.

2. The game of claim 1 wherein said compartments are arranged in generally parallel and transverse rows and wherein said rows are generally diagonally oriented relative to said launching stations. 

1. A unitary launch and target type game comprising: a plurality of playing pieces; a unitary game board having a plurality of compartments formed therein arranged in regular rows; a plurality of launching stations aRound the periphery of said compartments formed on said game board from where playing pieces are to be launched toward said compartments, each launching station having a platform and a relatively raised arcuate shoulder defining a launching surface for supporting and orientating a playing piece preparatory to launching; and a plurality of upright resilient launching elements each mounted adjacent each of the launching surfaces for movement in any direction between a cocked or stressed position remote from said launching surface and a released or launched position which extends through the space above said launching surface, each launching element including a spring means connected to the platform at its lower end and having an enlarged rigid member connected to its upper end at an elevation closely above the plane of said launching surface, whereby a playing piece supported on said launching surface is launched toward the compartments in one of an infinite number of directions.
 2. The game of claim 1 wherein said compartments are arranged in generally parallel and transverse rows and wherein said rows are generally diagonally oriented relative to said launching stations. 